Agenda item

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

 

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Anti-Social Behaviour Task Group.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

 

Cabinet received the final report and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Anti-Social Behaviour Task Group. 

 

The recommendations of the Task Group and officer comments were set out in the report as follows:-

 

Recommendation 1

That consideration be given to establishing funding to enable the creation of a part-time post in the MAPs Office to deal with co-ordination between Council Services and with partner agencies of reported incidents of anti-social behaviour, as an item of growth.  This could link closely to the part-time Domestic Violence Co-ordinator post.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 1

Currently there is no funding available within the Community Safety Partnership budget to create such a post.  It is unlikely that the County allocation to the CSP from the Area Based Grant will increase so this would need to be a growth bid into the Council’s 2009/10 budget process.

 

Recommendation 2

That, as part of the agreement for the Council’s part funding of 4 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) (out of a total of 20) totalling £44,000 per year, the Council be provided evidence that they are working to enforce the Council’s byelaws and issuing fixed penalty notices to ensure the authority receives value for money.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 2

PCSO evaluation is also a requirement of the Community Safety Partnership which currently allocates some £110,000 into their funding.  So this evaluation of the “environmental” PCSO’s could be built into that work.

 

Recommendation 3

That the City Council endorses the ‘Restorative Justice’ Programme and explores future involvement in the initiative in conjunction with Lancashire Constabulary where resources permit, applying this process to cases falling under the Council’s jurisdiction.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 3

The Task Group report outlines the principles of Restorative Justice which does seems to have great potential.  However, the funding bid for a local scheme was unsuccessful.  There has been a pilot project in Preston and Members might want to consider the evaluation of that scheme before endorsing such an approach.

 

Recommendation 4

That a single form for reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) be developed as part of the re-design of the City Council’s website, using Wyre Borough Council’s form as an example of best practice.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 4

Whilst a single form could be developed fairly easily, the Community Safety Partnership would need to consider its support for such a development and, more essentially, how that form would then be used for onward referral to relevant agencies who can take action.

 

Recommendation 5

That all PCSOs be issued with the City Council’s Customer Service Centre telephone numbers, and possibly other useful numbers such as Lancashire County Council Customer Services, to inform residents who raise queries with them.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 5

This is an operational recommendation which has already been actioned.

 

Recommendation 6

That the City Council seeks additional and significant funding from the LDLSP via the Children and Young People Thematic Group  to provide sufficient ‘diversionary activities’ to enable young people who are vulnerable, at risk or disadvantaged, to have the opportunity to participate in positive activities designed to prevent a range of negative outcomes.  Furthermore that a report be brought back to Members and budgets be updated accordingly.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 6

The Children and Young People Thematic Group are currently developing action plans for the seven agreed priority themes relating to LAA targets. NI 110 ‘increase young people’s participation in positive activities’ will potentially provide the rationale for seeking additional funding from the LDLSP to develop appropriate activities. The Children and Young People Thematic Group will need to consider possible joint funding application with other relevant Thematic Groups in the LDLSP in respect of this.

 

Recommendation 7

That Council Housing Services incorporate the findings of the Anti-social Behaviour Task Group when they review their published statutory "Anti-social Behaviour Policy Statement" and "Summary of Policies and Procedures" in 2009.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 7

Council Housing Serviceswill be reviewing its published statutory “Anti-social Behaviour Policy Statement” and “Summary of Policies and Procedures” in 2009/2010.  This will be reflected in their Service Business Plan for 2009/2010 and will also include specific actions arising out of a self assessment against the Tenancy and Estate Management KLOE.

 

Recommendation 8

That the Council investigates the possibility of providing PCSOs with the powers to issue parking tickets in particular with regard to areas outside schools.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 8

The recent decision by the County Council in respect of the allocation of enforcement responsibilities for on-street and off-street car parking control means that it is the County who are the on-street enforcement authority so this request could be passed to County for their consideration and liaison with the Police.

 

Recommendation 9

That in the development of the Local Development Framework the City Council encourages development of a policy aimed at locating areas for young people (over 14 yrs) to frequent in agreeable locations, in light of their exclusion from local playing areas.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 9

The Local Development Framework is entering its next phase where two important detail documents will begin to be prepared - The Land Allocations and Development Management Development Plan documents.  The development of such a policy could be considered for the development management document but resources would need to be identified to develop that policy.

 

Recommendation 10

That Cabinet formally note the comments of those who attended Task Group meetings and provided comments to the Council website and request responses from the relevant Services to the issues raised, and these be reported back to Cabinet for further consideration.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 10

If Cabinet wants to receive service responses back then it would help to know which areas it wants services to respond to.

 

Recommendation 11

That Services responsible for responding to Anti-social Behaviour investigate developing a joint approach with regard to prevention and enforcement policies in combating Anti-social Behaviour, and a Corporate Policy be adopted in order to ensure clarity of the Council’s prevention and enforcement policy.  This should include all types of anti-social behaviour including dog fouling, littering and infringement of alcohol free zones.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 11

Services with enforcement responsibilities are already signed up to the Enforcement Concordat developed through the Cabinet Office and LGA in 1998.  This seeks to achieve a consistent approach to enforcement balanced with actions on prevention.  In addition, joint working is co-ordinated through the MAPs Team.

 

Recommendation 12

That at manager discretion, all reports with probable impact on Community Safety be forwarded to the Community Safety Officer for comments prior to consideration of draft reports by Corporate Management Team and publication of Agenda.

 

Officer Comments on Recommendation 12

Our standard report format already requires that due consideration of Community Safety impact is taken account of by report writers and guidance is available.  In addition, the Head of Corporate Strategy can advise authors.

 

Recommendation 13

That Cabinet notify Overview and Scrutiny of any further work on specific items they wish to be carried out as a result of the findings contained within this report.

(No Officer comments on Recommendation 13)

 

It was moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Blamire:-

 

“(1)      That Task Group recommendation 1 be referred to the 2010/11 budget.

 

(2)        That Task Group recommendation 2 be referred to the next Cabinet meeting.

 

(3)        That, in response to Task Group recommendation 3, Cabinet agrees with the principles of Restorative Justice and requests information on the evaluation of the pilot project underway in Preston.

 

(4)        That Task Group recommendation 4 be referred to the Community Safety Partnership for consideration.

 

(5)        That Task Group recommendation 6 be referred to the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership’s Children and Young People Thematic Group for consideration.

 

(6)               That Task Group recommendation 7 be referred to Council Housing Services.

 

(7)               That Task Group recommendation 8 be referred to the County Council for its consideration and liaison with the Police.

 

(8)               That Cabinet supports Task Group recommendation 9 in principle and refers it to the Head of Planning Services.

 

(9)               That Task Group recommendation 5 and recommendations 10-13 be noted.”

 

Members then voted as follows:-

 

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That Task Group recommendation 1 be referred to the 2010/11 budget.

 

(2)        That Task Group recommendation 2 be referred to the next Cabinet meeting.

 

(3)        That, in response to Task Group recommendation 3, Cabinet agrees with the principles of Restorative Justice and requests information on the evaluation of the pilot project underway in Preston.

 

(4)        That Task Group recommendation 4 be referred to the Community Safety Partnership for consideration.

 

(5)        That Task Group recommendation 6 be referred to the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership’s Children and Young People Thematic Group for consideration.

 

(6)               That Task Group recommendation 7 be referred to Council Housing Services.

 

(7)               That Task Group recommendation 8 be referred to the County Council for its consideration and liaison with the Police.

 

(8)               That Cabinet supports Task Group recommendation 9 in principle and refers it to the Head of Planning Services.

 

(9)               That Task Group recommendation 5 and recommendations 10-13 be noted.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Executive

Head of Democratic Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision allows the recommendations of the Anti Social Behaviour Task Group to be noted by Cabinet and taken forward as appropriate.